A PROMISING young swimmer has made a big splash after shattering two longstanding records at an annual school gala.
Year 7 swimmer Molly Dorsi dived into the school record books at The King’s Academy’s inter-house swimming competition by shaving 4.4 seconds off the girls’ 25m backstroke record in a time of 15.60 seconds.
She also raced ahead in the girls’ 25m freestyle with a record swim of 13.97 seconds taking almost a second off the previous record set by student Maddie Clare in 2011.
Mollie, 11, of Coulby Newham, who has been swimming for Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Association for the past four years, adds the new school records to an already impressive haul of awards.
To date she has accrued 118 swimming medals, eight of which were achieved at Richmond Swimming Gala earlier this year where she achieved eight personal best times and became the girls’ 50m butterfly record holder in a time of 30.45 seconds.
Molly’s success has also seen her earn a place with the GB national squad after becoming the sixth fastest girl in the UK for 50m freestlye within her age group.
“I’ve been swimming since I was four and I absolutely love it,” said Molly, who swims at 5:45am every morning for an hour before school.
“It’s great to be able to swim at school as part of a house team because everyone is cheering you on to win and the atmosphere is amazing.
“I’d love to make a career out of swimming and maybe get to the Olympics one day – that would make me feel very proud.”
More than 160 students from Year 7 to Year 9 took the plunge as they battled it out for house honours in the fiercely contested swimming competition at the Rainbow Leisure Centre, Coulby Newham.
Academy principal David Dawes, who was there to cheer on the competitors, said: “This is a fantastic event that allows so many of our students to take part regardless of their ability in the water.
“It makes no difference if they come first or eighth as they can all earn valuable points for their house and it is particularly great to see them all working together as a team.
“I think it is so important for all our students to be able to develop physically as well as academically and spiritually as part of their all round character development while at The King’s Academy.”
The winning trophy was lifted by the Medes swimming team with second place awarded to Greeks with Romans and Hebrews in third and fourth position.
